Bubble Gum Kisses
CHAPTER 5

**Kapittel 5** ***Vanessa***

**I feel homesick and nostalgic at the same time.** I didn't know why, but probably because I was starting to miss our old house, but I wanted to stay here too. Weird. But maybe I've gotten too attached to the people my family, and I had met and created friendships with at Washington, especially my clique. Not to mention that dad and I made lots and lots of what I consider the most remarkable memories that I missed badly. While here in Scarsendale, I've created a myriad of childhood memories and relationships that I had forgotten but badly want to revive, especially with Angie and Angel, my closest childhood friends and cousins. Sigh. If only I could live in two places at once. Trying to kiss the morbid combination of feelings away, I raised my tired back, raised my arms, and stretched. Yesterday was tiring. We had a super long ride and had no time to waste unpacking and arranging stuff in the house. Good thing there was Aunt Rebecca and the twins, or else mom and I would have been a goner out of severe fatigue today. I looked out the window and witnessed the sun's golden rays seeping through the glass and admiring the breathtaking view outdoors. I rested my elbows on the window sill and admired the striking star's beauty, just like I always did back then. Just like I always did back then...

My lips slowly curled into a frown as nostalgia surged in my tightening chest. Not again. I groaned, slid my feet off the bed, and wore my fluffy slides. Standing up, I did a full-body roll stretch before fixing my bed and leaving the room, hoping that mom woke up earlier than me and had already made breakfast.

Much to my relief, when I arrived in the dining room, the delicious smell of bacon, sausages, and eggs invaded my nose as I laid my eyes on the table where hot and sizzling breakfast was already served. Mom was stirring coffee at the kitchen counter while Zach sat on his baby high chair, playing with his yogurt.

"Morning, mom," I greeted mom, sitting on the chair beside my little brother. "Good morning, baby." I pinched his puffy cheek and gave it a kiss.

He stopped playing with his food. "Mownin..." he struggled to say and reached up to give my cheek a kiss. Aw, this sweet boy.

"Morning, hon." Mom finally turned around and sat at the table with her mug of coffee in hand. She picked up her fork and knife, and we both had our fill, digging in harmoniously. "You know what to do today?" she asked me before chewing on a slice of bacon.

I raised my brows at her as I chewed my overly scrumptious breakfast. "Clean my room and sort out items, babysit Zach, replace the forms that I need to present to the school registrar on Monday. After that, prep my stuff and self for a new day in school as a transferee," I answered and turned to Zach to wipe off the yogurt on his cheek that I saw him smear through my peripheral vision, distracting myself from welling up again.

Since the accident, I had been absent from school for a month under the excuse of physical and mental recovery. I was not only physically scarred, the doctors then diagnosed me with acute trauma a week after I woke up. I spent the entire month coping with my sadness, blaming myself for the accident, and talking it to my therapist while recovering from my broken arm and legs. I missed dad's wake throughout the entire month and was only allowed to be released for a day, which was dad's funeral. That very day caused me another breakdown, and my stay in the hospital was extended.

Trying to get over everything, I thought I was gonna come back to school and be normal again, spend the usual restless days. But much to my disappointment, the day the doctors told me that I was good to go, I learned that we were moving out and I needed to transfer schools.

"Aw, my baby's all grown up," mom complimented, looking at me with starry eyes. I wanted to tell her that I was not. I was still depressed over dad's death, and talking to my therapist about all my dark, intrusive thoughts wasn't helping enough, but I didn't want to cause any more burden. I didn't want her to break and cry like how she did during the funeral. Aside from Zach, she was the only family I had left, and I didn't have any plans of losing them both. No. Never again. "Think in the morning, act in the afternoon, sleep in the evening," I quoted William Blake with a smile and continued eating breakfast.

As was planned, after breakfast, I immediately set to work. I cleaned, arranged, and decorated my room. The work ended almost half a day, mostly because I was distracted by my old stuff while sorting them and getting myself sad while looking for the forms I needed to present on Monday. Honestly, it was very depressing for me since it was my last semester in high school and I was excited about graduating. Taking class pictures, asking my classmates and friends where they'd be heading for college if they would be going to college or not, preparing for the yearbook, and the like.

Sitting on the edge of my bed, I looked over to my closet, where my set of new uniforms hung. I got on my feet, walked over to the wardrobe, and grabbed my Monday and Thursday uniform. It was a long-sleeved dress shirt with a ribbon around the collar, layered with a navy blue coat with the school crest patched on the right chest and its lapel lined with white fabric. It would be paired with an above-the-knee plated, flannel skirt. The Tuesday and Friday uniform had the same skirt and dress shirt but with a shorter sleeve that had the hem lined with navy blue fabric, a flannel necktie, and a navy blue vest with the logo patched on the right chest. I gently touched the soft fabric of my uniform with my fingertips. I didn't have a uniform back in middle and junior high school since I went to a public school, so it felt weird and new having a uniform. I actually didn't think of wearing one someday. Sigh, Trinity Knights High School, please be good to me. I took advantage of the rest of the time to finish decorating my room since mom would be starting her new job next week, so she'd be in charge of Zach in the meantime. After finishing my final touches for my room, I took a small break before switching spots with mom taking care of Zach, and the rest went on 'til evening. I made myself busy by surfing the internet while watching my little brother play in his crib when I heard mom's voice calling my name from the kitchen. "Vanessa?" I fumbled on the sofa, changing my position before answering, "Yes, mom?"

I heard her footsteps coming closer and closer. Anticipating her presence, I turned my head and faced her behind me. She was holding a long list of God knows what, a wad of cash, and her Cruze's key.

"There's a grocery shop the two blocks away from here. Drive my car and kindly empty this list," she said and handed me the long list with the cash and car keys she was holding. I took it and read the whole content. "Wow," I whistled. "Are we having an advance Thanksgiving, mom?"

Mom laughed at my joke. "No, sweetheart. Rebecca and the twins are going to have dinner here with us. You know your Auntie and cousins. They're not really fond of cooking."

I playfully rolled my eyes when she said the last phrase. "Right," I muttered in agreement. Auntie Rebecca wasn't really fond of cooking, and just as people say, like mother, like daughters. The twins have also acquired that trait of hers. "Okay," I took a deep breath, took the cash and keys, and then placed them in my pocket.

"Can come?" Zach volunteered all of a sudden, which stunned us both. He was raising his arms at me with a hopeful look on his face.

Mom walked over to the crib and leaned toward him to kiss his forehead. "That is if your sister agrees," she said, which rendered the little rascal to look at me with huge puppy eyes. Don't look at me like that, little boy. You're melting my heart! "Of course, you can," I walked over to them and messed his hair. He giggled, causing saliva bubbles to froth and pop out of his mouth, and he hopped on his spot to reach my neck, his arms still reaching for me. I leaned toward him and scooped him in my arms. Mom looked at us lovingly.

"We'll be back in a bit, mom," I told her and walked to the door.

"Bye-bye, ma-ma." He waved his hand at mom. I opened the door and made my way out, spotting mom's car nearby. I hear mom shouting from indoors, "Take your time!"

**

Thank you for reading Bubble Gum Kisses! To keep up with my works, future works, and endless frustrations on Twitter: https://twitter.org/RiosMorpheus**